Talking to ... Suraj Yengde

If the term Caste has recently entered the Human Sciences, this may be taken as evidence that European-style universalism has lost its appeal, and even as evidence that the idea has spread that here we’re dealing with an injustice that’s only been cloaked in a human, universalistic guise. When Indian theorist B.R. Ambedkar, ranked as the greatest Indian after Mahatma Gandhi in surveys, described the Indian caste system as »unknown to humanity in other parts of the world,« this finding becomes even more puzzling. This observation has given us the opportunity to speak with Suraj Yengde, who has not only addressed the caste system in two books but also experienced it firsthand as a member of the untouchable Dalit community—despite its prohibition under Indian law. Making this conversation even more interesting is his critical stance towards today’s culture of outrage, identifying Victim Olympics as a discipline that downplays or denies actual discrimination for its own benefit.

Suraj Yengde received the 2019 Canadian Dr. Ambedkar Social Justice Award and is a fellow at Harvard University’s W.E.B. Du Bois Center, where he teaches and serves as a research associate in its Department of African and African American Studies. He was named one of the 25 Most Influential Young Indians of 2021 by GQ India.

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